- Dental plaque is a coating of bacteria on the teeth. It contributes to poor dental health and diseases such as gingivitis, cavities and periodontal disease. Researchers who study plaque know that many different types of oral bacteria stick to each other in test-tube experiments. However, it is not clear if these interactions occur in natural dental plaque. By studying how bacteria interact, researchers can better understand how bacteria come together and grow to form plaque.

Objectives:

- To look at how bacteria interact with one another to form dental plaque.

Eligibility:

- Healthy nonsmoking volunteers at least 18 years of age.

Design:

Participants will be screened with a medical history and dental exam. They will also have dental impressions taken for a stent (a device similar to Invisalign(SqrRoot) braces).

Participants will wear the stent for up to 8 hours a day on selected study visit days. It will contain enamel chips made from sterilized human teeth. The mouth bacteria will stick to the chips and grow. Chips will be taken out of the stent twice during these study visit days.

Participants will have other study visits to provide saliva and plaque samples. They will also have gum swabs to collect bacteria.

Some participants may have a second set of study visits. At these visits, they will chew gum to increase their saliva production. Afterwards, they will wear the stent with the enamel chips for 4 hours. Samples from the stent will be taken once on these study visit days.

History of any medical conditions affecting salivary flow, such as Sj(SqrRoot)(Delta)gren s syndrome

History of any immunosuppressant therapy, such as glucocorticoids (within the last year), auto-immune or immune diseases such as ulcerative colitis or systemic lupus erythematosis, or current steroid therapy, other than topical, within the last 30 days

History of cardiac, kidney, liver and lung disorders

Use of tobacco within the last year

Use of antibiotics within the preceding four months

Use of medications thought to affect salivary flow such as head/neck radiation therapy, diuretics, or nitrates. Medications will be checked against product information for effect and reviewed by the protocol dentist.

Clinically visible active dental caries.

Active periodontal disease as defined as no more than 4 sites in the entire mouth with greater than or equal to 5mm probing depths.

History of severe allergic reactions (Anaphylaxis) to several allergins and specific allergies to or other substances found in the stent or impression material (ie: Plasticized Methacrylate Polymer, methyl methacrylate monomer, alkyl dimethacrylate, benzophenone, Toluidine and Hydroquinone), waxes containing Pine Rosin, and to the list of ingredients for the impression material.

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01712672